Oil-well apparatus



May 4 1926.

J. L. SHEA OIL WELL APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Shea: 1

led Dec. 20, 1921 A zglvvszvmza BY 5] A ATTORNEY May 4 1926.

J. L. SHEA OIL WELL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 20, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w W TO M i l, fll'llllllvll llll'llllll A TTORNEY May 4 1926.

J. L. SHEA OIL WELL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 20, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY r T all whom it mag concern:

Patented May 4, 1926.

QUNITE D STAT-ES 4 I I nsifnag or'snanvnronn nouisiannl orn-W LL APPARATUSQ Application filed December 20, 1921:, Serial rid/523,638.

Be it known that I, JERRY L, 'Snnm a citizenof the United Statesof Americmand a resident vof Shreveport, parish of Caddo,

and State of Louisiana, have invented oertain new and useful Improvements in Oil Well Apparatus, ofwhich the following'is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. v a 7 a I V i This invention relatesto. apparatus for oil wells and more particularly to equipment which may be employed for cleaning out suchwells whereby their productivity. may

be increased. r 1 l I,

Oilwells may be said to be of two general classes, first, those which extend through, ground material of r substantially similar character through out the depth of the well, and in this class it is customary for. the,

diameter ofthe bore of thewell to be the same throughout the well; and second, wells which are drilled into ground of unlike. characteristics through .its depth and in;

which a stratum of sand for example,,usu

1 ally the oil bearing stratum, is encountered. In drilling wells of the second class, it is usual to drill through one of these strataa bore having the ordinarydiameter and when the second stratum is encountered to change the diameter of thebore so as to provide a hole. of restricted diameter therethrough, The diameters of such wells, when .completed,;arein fact determined by the diam eter of the casinginserted in the wellas the drilling operation proceeds, and in sinking wells of this class, it is customary to make a transition from; the casing of relatively large'diameterto a casing of relative sniall diameter at a point somewhat abovethe sand stratum. i

In the operationof oil wells, the portion of the well which is in tlieoil, producing zone becomes clogged vup by the accumulationof foreign matter, such as mud, water and the like, and thus the flow of'oil- 18111- terfered with. As the accumulation of foreign matter continues, the interference,

gradually increases until xfinally it maybe that the flow of oil is not sufiicient to render the operation of the well wortlr while.

WNhen this point has been reached in wells of the first named class, it has been the practice to clean vout these accumulations by lowering into the well special equipment for cleaning out purposes. The operation in cleaning out i such a well commonly as swabbin'gj and the apparatus for the purpose is known as; a swab, Accordingly, in the;present specification and chim the term swab? will be employed "for designating cleaning;

equipment for oil wells. I r a I e I v V Heretofore, oil wells ,of' the, second class have not beenflswabbed out} as described, there being no apparatusavailable for the purpose, and it is the object of thepresent inventiombroadly stated, to provide a swab and the productivelife/of a well substan tiallylengthened l i A feature of the invention resides in, the

provision of a packing means of improved construction by which the equi pment adapted to enter the portion of the well having a the restricted diameter: may be operatively' connected with that portion which ohly'entens-the Par-t the W611: h v ng thelrelatively large diamet r I a Another feature relatesltothe proyision of: a check valve of improvedconstruction,

whereby the} flushing outj fluidmay be con-r ducted between the portions Lof'the well of unlike. diameter ,in only afpreoletermined direction. l V

Another feature a pair of separable sealing members Which are adapted to cooperate with each other-Ito Another feature relates toithe provision of a check valve at the bottom of the swabbing? relates to the outiv apparatus of improved constructiom,

1 and this .v alve forms oneof theimprtwedl element-sof the present invention,

Amongthe inovelfe'tures of thisj is the, provision-of, a valve openin'g which large rquantlj permits thetinrushing ;of; the ties \of,flusl1ing-ou t fluid frequire'd to thoroughly clean out the well, withi l minimum of resistance and interferenceto its passage; the provision ofan inclined seatfof l whereby the ckly and efiiciently closed to pre; flow of liquid inunde'sired direc-r tions ;v the provision of a, movable valve mem l novel" and 'mproved design valve is (1111 vent, the

ber of improvedconstruction, having its center of gravity, so adjusted that the valvejis' automatically andsreliably closed; and,l the to cooperate with the part of the well. of

relatively large diameter,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the portion of the swabb-ing apparatus adapted to cooperate with the partof the well having restricted. diameter, v

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section taken on the line H of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig; 2,

Fig. 6' is a horizontal cross-section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2,

' Fig. 7 is. a horizontal cross-section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the lower 0 portion of the swabbing apparatus of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 9 is ahorizontal cross-section taken on the line 919 of Fig. 8.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

35 Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is. shown an oil well having a casing 10 extending through the stratum 11. At a point 12,. a relatively short distance above the upper level of thejsand or other paying stratum 13, the casing 10 terminates and from approximately this point tothe bottom of the Well there extends a second casing 14lof a diameter relatively smaller than the diameter of the casing 10.

45 the casings 10' and 14; are secured in position in the well in any desired manner. The upperend of the lowercasing- 1 imay protrude somewhat into the casing 10-. The upper portion of the casing 10 terminates, above 59 the level of the ground in a usual casing head 15, having a centrally positioned orifice for the passage of the well pumping and,

cleaning apparatus and having a conducting passage 16 connected to suitable pumping apparatus, as for example, a vacuum line for withdrawing fluid from the well. 'A packing gland 17 of conventional design is provided for passing a supporting element such as a wire line or cable rope 18 through the casing head. A portion 19 of thewire line extends to a usual hoisting apparatus, such as hoisting drum, in a convenient position nearby, the wire rope being passed over a suitable crown block at the top of the usual derrick (not shown). For the purpose of operating the apparatus there may be provided at the mouth of the well a walking beam 20 of conventional design. After the swabbing apparatus has been inserted into the well, as will be subsequently set forth, the reciprocating end of the walking beam may be operatively connected with the well portion of the wire rope 18 by means of a usual temper screw 21. The arrangement is. such that oscillatory motion of the walking beam 20 will be transmitted to the temper screw 21, a flexible joint being provided between the Walking beam 20 and temper screw to compensate for the a-rcuate movement of" the end of the walking beam.

The rope 18 is afiixed at its well end to a rope socket whose outer periphery at its upper end is provided with a plurality of grooves such as 31 for the attachment of a fishing tool when the socket 30 is lost in the well. The lower end'of the rope socket 30 is screw-threaded to one of a seriesof sinker rods such as 32, secured together in longitudinal relation. The lowern'iost one of the rods 32 is attached to a reducing nipple 33 which in turn is screw-threaded to a swabbing pipe 3% having a, diameter sol-newhat greater than the-rods 32. The pi e 3% is provided with a number of perforations such as 35 extending radially through its walls for a purpose which will be'subse quentl'y set forth. Secured outwardly to the lower portion of the swabbing pipe is an elongated packing 36, the outer wall of the pipe 34 being provided with grooves in order that the packing may be securely attached thereto. Surrounding the pipe 34 at an intermediate portion thereof below the lower most perforation 35 and adjacent the upper face of the packing 36 is an annular valve member 37' whose exposed surface is curved to form a valve seal. For compressing the packing 36 to a desired degree thereis provided a collar 38 and a pair of nuts 39, one of which serves as an adjusting nut and the other of which serves as, a lock nut. It will be seen that when the nuts 39 are adjusted to compress the packing 36, the packing is forced against the member 3'2. Thus the member 37 serves the double purpose of providing a valve seal and of retaining the packing 36 in position. The normal adjustment is preferably such that the packing" 36 will pass through the casing ll but that pressure between the member 37 and the 1 packing 36 will distend the packing 36 against the casing of the well. The adj u: t ment may be changed during the life of the apparatus to compensate for wear of the packing.

A tubular valve chamber 40' is screwthreaded to the lower portion of the swabbing pipe Screw-threaded in the chan her 1-0 is a plug ember ll having trio orifice 42- extending therethrough. The plug. member 41 isthus mounted upon'theshelli4l having secured thereto 'asealing. member 45 A: nut 46'- preferably of relativel-y" massive construction 1s'mountednea'r the free end of the arm 44 i and serves the double purpose of limiting theextenflof movement of the valve-meme her 43 by coniingin contact with the wall ofthe chamber 40 and of rendering the cen-' terolt gravity of the cover 43 at all times displaced; fromwthe verticalaplane of; its

pivot, so that the valve is normally held'in closed position. by force of gravity.

:The swabbing apparatus for the part of thewell of relatively large diameter 00111-1 prises a plurality of sections such asshown inFi'gs25 secured to each other in longitudinal-relation, surrounding rope 18Tand slid ably mounted within the casing :The.

uppermost one of these sections includes a packing box-50 having on its upperpcriphery:a plurality of grooves such-as 51 for engagement'withthe' usual fishing tool;

Thenpacking boX comprises" a hollow reducingnipple 52 having an interior recess 53 of relatively large diameter and a longitudinally extending passageway 54 of restricted diameter, thus. forming an annular Shoulder 55. .A packing gland=156 is pro vided inthe upper portion of the recess 53 v and is held in place by a packingring 57 pressed against the packing by a compressionspring 58 I l v The nipple 52 'isuscrew-threa'ded to the upper one of a plurality of sections 60 secured to one another in longitudinal relation in any suitable manner, asfor example, by

means of couplings such as 61 of conven tional construction. Thepipe 60 maybe made of suitable drill pipe having an out side diameter such as will readily fit within the casing 1.0. The lowermost section 60 is secured to'a pipexsection 62forming. part of a lift check valve; The lower portion of pipe62 is screw-threaded to a pipe 63forminga packing supportto the lower end of.

which there is in turn secured a valve seal member 64'.

' "'l helowerniost'one of the drill pipe .sec-i tions' 60 has in its interior passage a disc having a-single perforation suitably mount ed in position by means of a'pair of split expansion rings such as 71; -The cable 18 passes throughtheperforation ofthe disc 7 O'and thus the escape of fluid from the lower portioirof the well at. undesired pcri odsissubstantially prevented. i

a The pipe section 62 has a portion75 of restricted diameter rel'ative' to portionf74. The change in outside diameter isgradual there being provided an inclined convex shouldera76. The cha1'ige in inside diameter? however, iszmadefby a steppedshoulder 77 0 in a plane transverse to the longitudinal" axis ofthe-pipe'62. .L-w i l .F or providing. fluid conducting. passagesi from the interior of theliftcheck valve tof the exterior thereof, a number: of spaced 1 channels 80 extend diagonally througlrtheshoulder formed by the surfaces 77 these passages being preferablypositioned along radial: lines asshown in.Fig. 4 and each disposed atan angle to thesurfaceotfthe inji cline 76.-Mounted upon the surface 76- is? a pair o'lf packing'rings 81', 82. Surrounding: and slidably. mounted upon the-restricted.- portiono-tthe pipe 62 is" a liftimeinber 831 1 having its loweryannular-surface cut to con respond withthe'slope of the surface 76, :and arranged to be seateduponithe packing rings; 81., 82. The arrangement is such that thelift= check v'alve is normally closed by the action: of gravity, forcing the member; 1 83:1d0Wn-. wardly into contact with the packing rings '81, SEZ -and'preVenting the passage of fluid.

downwardly. r hen the 1 fluid a pressesf aup: wardly however, with a' pressure. exceeding '1 a predetermined amount, the; member 83" is'liifted and displaced from its seat, there by permitting theescape of fluid-through the channels 80 in an upward and outward direction. x I 1; hiounted directly upon the exteriorof the intermediate portion of the pipe .63 is a packing .90 formed eta-suitable material,- such as rubber-or the, like.-: This is :lield in. place by a collar 91 pressed against the lower extrem'ityzof the pipe section 62, and by, a, second collar 92, which: in turn mayibead j ustablylpositioned bylmeans ofia pairof nuts 93.1 It will be seen thattheffartherup. the nuts 93 are placed; the greateris the compression 5 against theirubber, packing 90.; The: normal adjustment is preferably such that the packing :willpass through the. casing 10, although it may bevaried toacompensatesforwear." The valve seal member 64 comprisesan an nular fia'ngearrangedto be screw-threaded to the lower extremity: ofrthe section "68 3 and having its interior-rounded outito co'rree spond withitheshape of thesconvex surface of the :rneinber: 37. The arrangement of; the parts is s'uchthat when the member"64.0011- tacts with the member 37 an effectual seal .is. made'for preventingthe escape of any fiuich which may be retained; in theichamber. formed by the' pipe sections 63, 62; i and so much of 60'asis below the disc 70:

In the operation of an oilwell',whenit be-g comes ne'cessaryto swab out the ell, the upe per portion comprising the-portion for-inedby the upper casing 10 is first swabbed; out either with a mechanismsimilar- Itothe swab, herein shownor with any-other: suitable swabbing mechanism of prior construction;

the portion shown in Fig. 3, so as to form the assembly illustrated in Fig. 1. The entire swabbing mechanism is then lowered into the well and a connection, such as shown in Fig. 1, is made to the walking beam. The walking beam is then operated. On each of the downward strokes of the walking beam the valve shell 40 is forced downwardly into the mud or other foreign material Within the well and the mud or other foreign material is trapped on each upward stroke by the closure of the valve member 43.

It will be seen that the diameter of the collar 92 is relatively larger than the diameter of the casing 14, so that when lowered. into the well a face of the collar 92 contacts with the upper edge of the inner casing 14. Thus when the swab has been lowered so that the portion shown in Fig. 3 has entered the restricted casing 14, substantially the entire weight of the portion of Fig. 2 is supported upon the collar 91. The packing 90 is thus jammed in between the collar 92, which is in I fixed position by virtue of its contact with the casing 14 and is subjected to a compression due to the weight mentioned. It is therefore distended outwardly against the larger casing 10 and forms an'effective seal for the casing 10. Escape of fluid upwardly between the packing 90and the interior wall of the casing 10 is thus effectually prevented.

WVhen a suflicient load of fluid has been introduced above the packing member 36, the usual mechanism may be made active for drawing up the wire rope 18. 'The fluid trapped by the previous reciprocatory action of the walking beam is now drawn upwardly through the section 63 andnot being able to pass the disk is forced through the passages of the lift'check valve 83. fluid passes into the space between theouter surface of the sections 60 and the inner wall of the casing 10, being maintained therein by the lift check valve. A number of loads may be introduced into this space by reciprocatory action of the lower portion of the swabbing apparatus shown in Fig. 3. After a number of loads have thus been drawn, the entire swab is drawn out of the well and all of the liquid trapped, both in the lower portion and in the upper portion of the swabbing apparatus israised .to the surface.

The I After the fluid in the. well has been cleaned out in this manner the lower swab is operated at various points in the paying sand strata. The oil passes through the perforations in the lower portion of the casing 14 through the normal operation of the: well, and it is therefore, of importance to thoroughly clean out these perforations. Ac: cordingly, the swabbing mechanism is employed in a manner similar to that already described at various points in the paying strata and the reciprocatory action caused by the walking beam forces fluid through the check valve into the pipe 34 and out through the perforations 35. The fluid is prevented from flowing directlyback'by means of the packing 36 andupon the upward stroke of the walking beam, the fluid will be forced out through the perforations 35 and into the sand and subsequently returned to the check valve 43. Obstructions in the perforationsv 1n the casing are removed by this churning operation and in case any of these obstrucbottom of the casing, they may be subsequently removed in any well known manner,- as for example, by means of a sand pump.

The swabbing mechanism of my invention may be employed in connection with wells having casings of more than two diameters,

'swabbing mechanism for efficiently cleaning out wells having casings of unlike diameters, whereby the lowermost portions of the well may be thoroughly swabb-ed out, thus the operation of the wells of this type-may be continued for extended periods, their product-ive life being subsequently increased by the use of the present invention.

Illustrative apparatus has been described for the purpose of showing a way in which this invention maybe practiced, but theinventive thought upon which this application is based is broader than the illustrative eml')OCil111Gl1il thereof, and I therefore intend no; limitation other than those imposed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for swabbing a well casing having sections of varying diameters comprising a string of tubular members secured to each other in longitudinal relation and slidably mounted within the section of the casing of larger diameter, one of the lower members being closed against the upward flow of the liquid therethrough and another tions are of such nature as to collect in the r of said members being formed with a por-:

valve seat having a plurality of radial ports extending therethrough, an annular valve slidably mounted on the restricted portion of said tubular member and adapted to close said ports, packing disposed on the lowermost member of said string of tubing adapted to form a liquid seal with the wall of the casing, and means for raising liquid en-. countered in the sections of the well casing of smaller diameter and for'forcing the same upwardly through a portion of the string of tubular members and through the outlet ports into the Well casing above the packing member. p I

2. Apparatus for swabbing a well casing having sections of varying diameters comprising means for cleaning the walls of the lower casing and for raising any liquid encountered in the lower casing to the upper casing, a tubular member in the upper caslower casing and formed with a portion thereof of increased diameter, the upper end ing adapted to receive the liquid from the I of" the enlarged portion being'formed With an inclined annular shoulder constituting a valve seat through which extend a plurality" of radial ports,an annular valve member slidably mounted on the restricted portion of the tubular member and having its lower surface formed to correspond with the slope of the valve seat and adapted l to form a 1i uid seal therewith, means disposed above sald radial ports for preventing the upward flow of liquid through the tubular member, meansdirectly beneath said tubular member for cleaning the walls of the larger casing andforming' a substantially liquid tight seal therewith, and means for ralsing said tubular member in the well casing to expel the 1 liquid discharged through the radial ports.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of December 1921.

JERRY L; SHEA, 

